Craig Janes, director of the School of Public Health Sciences, received the 2021 George Foster Practicing Medical Anthropology Award from the Society for Medical Anthropology this week. The career award “recognizes those who have made significant contributions to applying theory and methods in medical anthropology, particularly in diverse contexts, to multidisciplinary audiences, and with some impact on policy.”
Janes researches human-environment interactions, social inequities and health, global health systems and maternal and child health. His current work focuses on public health governance of the resource sector and the impact of climate change on health systems. He teaches global health and comparative health systems.
“This award is a great and unexpected honour, particularly because it recognizes the contributions that I have made by applying my training in anthropology to multidisciplinary scholarship, academic leadership and policy advocacy to global public health,” Janes said. “It also honours my many colleagues, partners and current and former students who have very much contributed to my applied and policy work. Global health is a team sport and they are as deserving of this honour as I am!”
The award is named in honour of George Foster (1913-2006), who was a faculty member at University of California, Berkeley and one of the founders of medical anthropology.